Grants awarded to tackle anti-social behaviour

Ten UK communities have been awarded £10,000 each to help reduce problem drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Announced by the government’s champion for safer communities, Baroness Helen Newlove, the grants will be used to test ideas put forward by the residents of each area to combat anti-social behaviour.

The 10 areas are:

• Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

• Croydon, London

• Exeter, Devon

• Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

• Horsham, West Sussex

• Lancaster, Lancashire

• North Tyneside

• Nottingham

• Reading, Berkshire

• St Helens, Merseyside

Baroness Newlove urged a joint effort to tackle underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. “I am convinced that the solution to underage and binge drinking and the crime and anti-social behaviour that comes in its wake can only be found when everyone, those affected and those paid to stamp it out, come together with total resolve to tackle it head-on,” she said. “It’s not about huge amounts of money either, some of the best most effective approaches involve pooling resources, sharing information and improving existing communications.”

“These ten areas, like the original ten, have impressed me with a local plan involving community activists, police, health workers and the retail trade and I want other communities facing similar problems to learn from their innovative example,” added Newlove.

“For too long, a small minority has impacted adversely on our happiness, health and security. We have to change society’s tolerance to this unacceptable behaviour and the fight-back will be sown in these grassroots partnerships.”

This is the second phase of funding, with 10 towns already receiving £45,000 each annually for two years.

The Heart of England Co-operative Society has agreed a new distribution agreement with LocoSoco, the social enterprise which offers a wide range of refillable household products, including sanitisers, at value price points.